Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the findings in the report by Fortify Rights, "They Block Everything": Avoidable Deprivations in Humanitarian Aid to Ethnic Civilians Displaced by War in Kachin State, Myanmar, published in August.
Answered by Lord Bates
We are deeply concerned by continued reports of violence in Kachin and also northern Shan States, which has led to a further 8,000 people being displaced since February 2018.
We are aware of the report and consider the findings to be credible. We agree with the conclusions that access for international groups to Kachin state is needed urgently. The UK continues to push the Burmese authorities for access at all opportunities.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken in response to reported steps by the Burmese authorities to criminalise humanitarian aid groups working in Kachin and Shan States.
Answered by Lord Bates
We are deeply concerned by continued reports of violence in Kachin and also northern Shan States, which has led to a further 8,000 people being displaced since February 2018.
We are aware of the report and consider the findings to be credible. We agree with the conclusions that access for international groups to Kachin state is needed urgently. The UK continues to push the Burmese authorities for access at all opportunities.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what humanitarian assistance they are providing to internally displaced people in Kachin and Shan State.
Answered by Lord Bates
We are deeply concerned by continued reports of violence in Kachin and northern Shan States, which has led to a further 8,000 people being displaced since February 2018. DFID is providing humanitarian support to displaced populations. In the last financial year, DFID spent £6.1 million on humanitarian assistance for conflict affected people in Kachin and Northern Shan states. We continue to raise our concerns with both military and civilian Ministers in the Government of Burma.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide humanitarian aid to any refugees forced to return to Chin State, Myanmar, from Malaysia and other countries.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) announced on 13 June 2018 that it will begin individual assessments of Chin refugees in Malaysia and other countries to determine whether they continue to have international protection needs. The UK government does not currently assess that Chin refugees in Malaysia and other countries are at risk of forcible return to Burma and will continue to monitor the situation.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by the Secretary of State for International Development on 30 April (HC Deb, col 62), how they propose to provide support to the local administrations in the extremist controlled Idlib area.
Answered by Lord Bates
Through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) we are helping to meet the needs of Syrian communities in Idlib. The CSSF supports the local administration and citizens’ participation in areas controlled by the moderate opposition through a portfolio of education, livelihoods and governance programmes.
The UK has extensive controls in place to ensure that UK aid reaches those who need it and that it does not benefit extremists groups, including vetting processes to ensure such groups are not part of the Councils with which we work and a variety of sources to monitor ongoing developments in communities. We stop funding to any project or sub-project where we have any concern that it could benefit proscribed groups.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they assess partners’ commitment to UK Partnership Principles and to promoting freedom of religion or belief when determining the funding of governments and organisations.
Answered by Lord Bates
In determining UKAid funding to governments DFID assesses their commitment to each of four Partnership Principles. One of the Principles is commitment to human rights, which includes freedom of religion or belief. Evidence of lack of commitment to the Principles would influence choices on the level and the manner of aid provision. DFID contractual and grant arrangements used for organisations other than governments include specific clauses to prevent any discrimination against protected characteristics, including religion or belief.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 23 October (HL1710), which 16 Syrian councils have received funds; whether any of those councils are in areas controlled by extremist groups including Hayat Tahrir Ash Sham and Ahrar Ash Sham; what assessment they have made of whether those funds might be exploited by such groups; and whether they intend to suspend all such financial support.
Answered by Lord Bates
The DFID Strengthening Governance Structures programme, Tatweer, is currently supporting thirteen Syrian councils in Aleppo, Idlib, Rif Damascus and Dera’a Governorates. Three further councils have received support through Tatweer, but this is currently suspended. For security reasons and for the protection of staff DFID does not disclose which councils have received funding.
DFID continuously assesses partners and has extensive controls in place to ensure money is used for its intended purpose and does not benefit extremist groups. Tatweer has field staff embedded within communities monitoring the ongoing conflict and the influence of extremist groups on local governance structures. Tatweer is clear with communities and local council members that any influence from extremist groups on councils will not be tolerated.
DFID has suspended financial support to two local councils in Idlib where Hayat Tahrir Ash Sham has sought to influence or control councils. We have also suspended supported to a council in Dera’a due to intense fighting. No financial support was diverted in either case. Assistance is monitored continuously and the UK Government will withdraw support if there is reason to believe UK funding may be at risk.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are giving any assistance in relation to cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea in Sudan.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK is one of the largest humanitarian donors to Sudan. Through the Department for International Development, we are the largest contributor to the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which has provided over $2.5 million via the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and other NGO partners for preventative and treatment support to those affected by Acute Watery Diarrhoea. The UK is also a major contributor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which has also provided nearly $2 million funding towards prevention and treatment of this disease in Sudan.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to guarantee humanitarian access to civilian populations in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK government welcomes the Government of Sudan’s acceptance of the US proposal to provide humanitarian aid to the South Kordofan and Blue Nile States. During the most recent round of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue on 16 October, the Government of Sudan reaffirmed their continued commitment to this proposal. We have continued to urge the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) to immediately agree to the US proposal, in order to enable humanitarian aid to reach those in rebel controlled locations in the Two Areas.
Asked by: Baroness Cox (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 20 September (HL1252), what is the role of Tamkeen in delivering UK aid to support moderates in Syria; which local councils are receiving UK aid through Tamkeen; and whether individuals associated with proscribed organisations, such as Al Qaida, are or have been members of councils which have received UK aid.
Answered by Lord Bates
The “Support to Emerging Local Governance in Syria (Tamkeen)” programme, which ended in 2016, and its successor, the “Strengthening Governance Structures (Tatweer)” programme, support Provincial and Local Councils in Syria by helping them to provide open and accountable local governance and services. Tatweer operates in 16 Syrian Local Councils identified as needing immediate basic services support across Idlib, Aleppo, Daraa and Rif Damascus governorates.
DFID has extensive controls in place to ensure that UK aid reaches those who need it and that it does not benefit extremists or terror groups, including vetting processes to ensure such groups are not part of the Councils with which we work. We actively manage the risks of operating in Syria. We stop funding to any project or sub-project where we have any concern that it could benefit proscribed groups.